As Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai thanked residents who had given firecrackers to miss Diwali this year for less pollution a day after the festival, the BJP on Friday said the air quality index (AQI) showed “a conspiracy by the AAP government to tarnish the name of Sanatan.” the tradition of lighting firecrackers on Diwali in the name of pollution” had failed again.
The city’s AQI levels had breached the 350 mark four days ago, with forecasts indicating that this was expected to cross over 400 the day after Diwali due to pollution caused by fireworks. “But I want to thank the people of Delhi. Thanks to their efforts, AQI has stabilized at 360. The pollution levels remain below the severe category, for which I congratulate them,” said Rai.
“Some people set off fireworks; I want to request them, just as entire Delhi is participating in celebrating festivals and saving people’s lives, if you all cooperated, the level of pollution would be less,” he added.
He also appealed to Delhi’s neighboring BJP-ruled states to ban the use of explosives.
Counting Rai, Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva said Delhi residents woke up to “better than normal” air quality. “The truth is the dust from everyday vehicles on the broken roads of Delhi has a far greater impact than fireworks lit overnight… Sanatan Society,” he added.
South Delhi BJP member Ramvir Singh Bidhuri blamed the AAP government and the MCD. “Broken footpaths also create dust pollution … the AAP-led MCD is not cleaning the roads …,” he said, and alleged that the AAP government could not check waste burning.